Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has asserted that peace talks held in China between Afghanistan and Pakistan to halt cross-border fighting between the two neighbors have been constructive.
In a post on X, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal said that Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with China’s Ambassador to Afghanistan today.
Takal thanked Beijing for arranging and hosting the talks, and Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for their mediation efforts.
“Noting that constructive discussions have taken place so far, FM Muttaqi expressed hope that minor interpretations would not hinder the progress of the negotiations.”
Zia Ahmad Takal
The talks began last week in the western Chinese city of Urumqi following an invitation by China, in an effort to stop the conflict that began between the two countries in February, leaving hundreds dead.
Pakistan, which declared it was in “open war” with its neighbor, has also carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan, including in the capital Kabul.
China has increasingly positioned itself as a facilitator of regional diplomacy, hosting meetings and encouraging dialogue among neighboring countries facing security and political challenges. By bringing Afghan and Pakistani representatives together, Beijing aims to support efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peaceful engagement between the two states.
While details of the discussions have not been fully disclosed, Afghan official’s statement points to talks being conducted in a constructive atmosphere, allowing both sides to exchange views on ways to prevent further clashes along the border.
There have been few official statements regarding the discussions since they began on April 1 between mid-level delegations from the two sides. Even during the talks, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out shelling across its border on several occasions, killing and wounding civilians. Pakistan has not commented.
The recent fighting, the most severe between the two neighbors, began after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. The clashes disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October, after earlier fighting had killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.
On March 17, a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug-treatment center in Kabul, which Afghan officials said killed more than 400 people. Pakistan denied it had targeted civilians, saying that its strikes were against military facilities.
Pakistan often accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven to militants who carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The group is separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban, which took over Afghanistan in 2021 following the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.
Although the Afghan Foreign Ministry described the talks as constructive, it remains unclear whether they will lead to immediate changes on the ground along the border.
Analysts say sustained engagement and follow-up discussions will likely be necessary to translate diplomatic dialogue into concrete measures that reduce violence.
For Afghanistan and Pakistan, managing tensions along their shared border remains a critical issue for regional stability. Communities living near the frontier have often borne the brunt of clashes, with disruptions affecting local livelihoods.
Pakistan Vows To Continue Counterterrorism Operations
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military Commanders vowed to continue ongoing counterterrorism operations until “militant safe havens” are eliminated and “the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan” ends.
According to a statement from the military, the remarks, made today, came during a meeting of top military Commanders chaired by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The meeting reviewed the prevailing internal and external security environment. The statement said that “terrorist proxies” operating on behalf of “external sponsors,” along with their facilitators, would be pursued and eliminated “relentlessly and without exception.”
Nonetheless, officials from both countries are expected to maintain communication channels in the hope of preventing future confrontations and building a more stable framework for managing border tensions.
The United Nations’ office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan posted on X today that the conflict had displaced 94,000 people overall, while 100,000 people in two Afghan districts near the border have been completely cut off by the fighting since February.
The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence in the region.
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